Early start is a no-no

May 11, 2012

If a government meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m., it needs to begin at 7 p.m. Not a minute early, not a minute late.

Thus, it may not come as a surprise to some readers of this newspaper to learn the Silver Creek Village Board meeting on Monday, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., began early. How early? We're not certain.

Others who attended the meeting - and were five minutes early - told our newspaper the meeting was already in progress when they arrived.

That's wrong - and it is a public disservice and deceitful to the taxpayers.

What also is wrong are elected officials, in a public setting during a meeting, whispering to each other. Public meetings are meant to be heard by those who attend. Boards can save the whispering for the executive sessions - even the illegal ones they hold.

Of all boards, Silver Creek should have learned its lesson. These officials have already been through the wringer regarding the questionable purchase - for twice the assessed property value - of a Department of Public Works facility.

Why do anything more to make constituents further question your ethics or integrity?

If the decision processes by the village were done in public, there would be less information to hide. Even when dealing with the state comptroller's office.